Improvement in key-fasteners



J. A. WHITTEMORE & P. SLATTERY.

KEY'FAS'I'ENER.

Patented Oct. 10, 1876.

. JAMES RYOSGOOD & CO BOSTON UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. WHITTEMORE AND PETER SLATTERY, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASS.

IMPROVEMENT IN KEV-FASTENERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. [83,034, dated October 10, 1876; application filed August 24, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, JOHN A. WHITTE- MORE and PETER SLATTERY, both of Springfield, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Locks, of which the following is a specification:

The nature and objects of our invention are clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which -Figure I is a plan view, showing the parts in one position. Fig. II is a partial section of the same with the position of the parts changed; and Fig. III is a detail view.

Our invention consists in beveling the under face of the escutcheon, in the wellknown slotted escutcheon, which shuts over an angular key-board, for the purpose of preventing the key from being pushed out of the lock, or being turned by nippers therein; the object of our invention being to render it impossible for the escutcheon to be pushed aside to release the key-barrel by tools from the rear, by immediately surrounding the barrel at that point by a surface upon which such tools cannot catch or make an impression.

Figure I shows the escutcheon B hinged to the key-hole plate 0 at b, so that if unassisted by anything but its gravity it would rest upon the key D when the squared part of its shank was in the position shown in the drawings, which is at the time the door is unlocked; but when the key is turned to right angles, the escutcheon, although offering no obstruction to the free revolution of the key, falls over it, as shown in Fig. II, to have the slot at clasp the shank of the key, to effectually prevent its being turned by nippers or pushed out.

The key D, shown only in transverse section in the drawing, has the stock reduced at the shank to leave shoulders that bear upon both sides of the escutcheon B when clasping the key, as shown in Fig. II.

The escutcheon when looking the key, besides being firmly held at b, is secured by the catch at f, into which it swings, so that, being fastened at both of its ends, it is impossible to spring it out with an instrument from the rear, as might be possible were it secured at only one of its ends.

The swing of the escutcheon is limited and guided by a spur or pin, g, from its inner face, that plays in, and comes against, the ends of a corresponding groove, m, in the part 0, as shown in Fig. 1.

Although the escutcheon B would by its own gravity follow upon the key, yet to cause it to act instantly and surely, as well as to supply the resistance necessary to prevent it from being swung away from the key by a sharp tool from the rear, and to also wedge the end under the catch f, we supplement the weight by a strong spring, P, which plays in the barrel 0, countersunk in the part 0, and around the post 8, that receives the screw 11, which spring, being hooked to a spur, y, of the escutcheon, acts continuously to close the escutcheon over the key-hole and key.

To effectually prevent a tool acting in the limited area of the key-hole from pushing aside the escutcheon B, we bevel the inner face of the escutcheon where it comes opposite the key-hole when it is closed, as shown in Fig. III, so that the tool would have to be pushed into an inclined metal face, and also work against a strong spring before swinging the escutcheon.

We are aware that the slotted escutcheon made to swing or slide to lock an angularbarreled key, is not new, and wish to make no claim thereto.

Now, having described our invention, what we claim is In combination with escutcheon B, provided with a slot, a, to fit over and hold an angularbarreled key, D, the beveled under face of the escutcheon, for the purpose as shown and described.

JOHN A. WHITTEMORE. PETER SLATTERY.

Witnesses:

R. F. HYDE, T. M. BROWN. 

